The stewards at the Hungarian Grand Prix explained why Carlos Sainz received only a five‑second penalty for his clash with Oscar Piastri. The incident occurred on Lap 38 as Sainz, being lapped, attempted to overtake the McLaren while the blue‑flag system was confused.

Sainz was told that Piastri was approaching, but the Williams driver could not see the McLaren in his mirrors before the contact at Turn 3. The stewards deemed this a mitigating factor and ruled that a standard 10‑second penalty was excessive.

Consequently, the penalty was reduced to five seconds. Piastri continued without damage, but the collision cost him the lead, allowing Lando Norris to take the win. Sainz finished 18th, two laps down, while Piastri later retired with a gearbox failure.

The decision highlights the importance of clear blue‑flag signals and driver visibility. It also demonstrates how stewards weigh context when applying race‑time penalties, balancing fairness with race integrity.